Chateau Trotanoy 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Super nose of dried blueberry, black plum, walnut, myrrh and sandalwood. Lavender, violet, and chocolate, too. Ripe with wood now, but fresh. It’s full-bodied with firm, ultra fine tannins. Lots of dark spice is interlaced with the ripe fruit, giving this complex, perfumed character. Muscular, long and seamless with incredible depth and concentration. Reminds me of the great 2009, but this is better with more structure. Amazing wine. This is 100% merlot. Try from 2027."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und zartem rubinrotem Rand. Sehr komplexes Bouquet mit getrockneten Wildkräutern, Gewürzlorbeer und tiefschürfender Terroirwürze. Im zweiten Ansatz schwarze Johannisbeere, Wildkirsche und dunkle Schokotrüffel. Am vielschichtigen Gaumen mit weicher Textur, kakaoartiges Extrakt, dichtes Tanningerüst, das dem Pomerol–Thor Halt und unglaubliche Tiefe verleiht, mir stockt der Atem. Im konzentrierten nicht enden wollenden Finale eine Symbiose von unglaublicher Kraft, magischer Finesse, royaler Adstringenz und dunklem Graphit. Das ist pure Perfektion und dafür kann es nur die Höchstnote geben. Merci, Christian Moueix!"

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another heavenly Pomerol in the vintage, the 2018 Château Trotanoy checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in (I suspect) lots of new French oak (although it's certainly not apparent). Revealing a dense purple hue as well as a smorgasbord-like bouquet of blackcurrants, dried flowers, cured meats, violets, tobacco, and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a sexy, seductive texture, building yet sweet tannins, and just a rich, concentrated, yet flawless profile on the palate that's already impossible to resist. Nevertheless, a good 7-8 years of bottle age are warranted, and this magical elixir is going to evolve for 40 years or more."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Breathtaking in every sense of the word, this is what great Pomerol is all about. Dark in color, the complex bouquet starts off with flowers, truffle, chocolate, black cherry, incense, smoke, licorice and spice. But the best part of the wine takes place on your palate with its lavish display of velvet drenched fruits. The level of purity, coupled with its opulent, sensual qualities, length and complexity is almost off the charts! The finish easily crosses the 60 second mark! This is a future legend of Bordeaux."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Trotanoy is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly unfurls to reveal a jaw-dropping perfume of Black Forest cake, black raspberries, blackberry pie and kirsch, followed by hints of cast-iron pan, violets, woodsmoke, Chinese five spice and eucalyptus, with a waft of tree bark. The full-bodied palate explodes with exotic spice and mineral fireworks, grounded by a concentrated, black and red berry preserves core and framed by firm, grainy tannins, finishing with epic length and depth. It will need a good five years in bottle to tame some of the youthfully overt, showy fruit and allow the mineral and earth nuances to emerge, then it should easily cellar another 35 years or more."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarter Wasserrand. Feine Pflaumenfrucht, frische Orangenzesten, schwarzes Waldbeerkonfit, tabakige Nuancen. Komplex, engmaschig, feiner Nougat, schwarze Frucht, präsente, tragende Tannine, sehr komplex und lange, schokoladiger Nachhall, angelegt für Jahrzehnte."

DECANTER: "This stood out en primeur and it does again in bottle (I also tasted it in between at a Decanter Fine Wine Encounter), more than holding its own over ageing. There is just so much to sink your teeth into: a ton of textured blackberry and bilberry fruits, with cocoa pods and saffron spice, giving a clue as to the warmth of the vintage, but still shot through with fresh acidity. Young and curled, this needs time. Drinking Window 2026 - 2048"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a great estate performing at its best. In this latest release, massive tannins give black-plum fruits concentration and layers of spice and licorice flavors. The wine is set for long-term aging and certainly should not be touched before 2027."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Rich, with a velvety feel to the mix of crushed plum and steeped fig and boysenberry fruit. Lots of dried anise, tobacco, charcoal and black tea curl around the finish, where a graphite spine is deeply imbedded. Well-structured for the cellar too. Best from 2023 through 2038."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Definite Cabernet aroma. Broad and smooth and opulent. Essence of Pomerol! But it hits the spot. Glamorous, intense wine."